The ultimate objective of using
a super telephoto lens is to capture subjects at great distances away with sharp
definition throughout the entire image area in the picture frame.Super telephoto lenses
are indispensable for shooting sports, wildlife and news events, and even for recording
difficult-to-approach subjects or in surveillance Generally, lenses with focal lengths
of 600mm or more, making operation and portability inconvenient. With the intensive
use of computers in lens design, the ultimate objectives in aiming to reach such
operational goals in reducing their sizes and improving portability have been achieved
to certain extend in many of the modern Nikkor super telephoto lenses.

Today, with advancement in
lense development, most super telephoto lenses usually offers high resolving power
and superior image definition due to incorporation of various optical innovations
to ensure all possible aberrations be minimized to absolute minimal level. For an
instance, chromatic aberration, secondary spectrum and field curvature can be well
controlled via computer aided design, use of rare earth glasses and ingenious Internal
Focusing design to enable them remain compact and lightweight enough to be even used
for handheld shootings..

Nikkor 800mm focal length
lenses has a very narrow 3-degree angle of view and its focal length enable even
the distant subjects to be brought up close. On the other hand, these lenses exhibit
high resolution, contrast in their superior optical character and color balance are
outstanding and usually rank on a par with lenses much shorter in focal length. However,
on a practical note, their narrow angles of view, weight, size and great magnifications
restricts the number of photographic applications where you can use them effectively.
With these lenses, you definitely would require a monopod/tripod or any other form
of steady support. In most cases, these lenses will be used at their maximum apertures
because most of the time, one would need the fastest possible shutter speed to stop
the action and minimize the motion effect from the hands. generally, one effective
way to offset such possible negative effect is combining lens support with a film
type that has a higher film speed rating. There are two available options of Nikkor
lenses at this specific 800mm focal length, a high speed f/5.6 and a slower f/8.0.
Nikkor lenses with f/8.0 has a long development history which can be dated back to
1964 while the fast speed f/5.6 Nikkor telephoto lens was only being introduced during
mid '80.

The fastest Nikkor super telephoto
lens speed at 800mm focal length is the MF Nikkor 800mm f/5.6s ED-IF lens.
Along with a comparing Canon
FDn 800mm f/5.6L, both of these lenses are the fastest
lens of its class in the world.

The exotic Nikkor lens was
introduced late in 1986, a year after the high speed MF Nikkor 400mm f/2.8s ED-IF lens was introduced and making it
as an Ai-S lens version only. The Nikkor 800mm lens generously utilizes THREE Extra
Low-Dispersion optical glass elements in its design to hold the secondary spectrum
to a minimum and to prevent deterioration in picture quality from chromatic aberration.
This remarkable Nikkor long tele-lens also incorporates Internal focusing system
in which only the rearmost lens element moves internally for focusing. Despite its
size, the weight distribution in its design maintains a good balance when using a
tripod. A
360° rotatable L-shape tripod socket collar allows secure tripod mounting and
with its revolving mechanism,
quick
change from horizontal- to vertical-format shooting is possible, besides, the collar
can also be removed. It
weights almost 5.4kg in weight and cost a bomb in its selling price*.*.Note: Nikkor 800mm f/5.6 IF-ED lens
has a List Price of RM25,892.43 (US1-00
= RM3.80), Nikon Japan website features a suggested list price of 890,000 yen.

The Nikkor 800mm f/8.0s
ED-IF telephoto lens with internal focusing mechanism was officially debuted during
Photokina in 1978. This Ai-S lens was only being introduced in 1982 where an Ai-S
type lens coupling system was used to replace the earlier version.

This lens
has a frame-filling 16X magnification of the subject when compared with a normal
lens, and combining its lighter weight than the faster counterpart which weighs almost
70% heavier, making it an ideal lens for shooting sports, wildlife, astrophotography,
etc. The main technical highlights was the use of Internal Focusing (IF) design makes
focusing quick , smoother and positive in lens handling. The use of Extra-low Dispersion
(ED) glass in its optical design insures outstanding resolution, contrast, and color
balance by controlling chromatic aberration to absolute minimal level. The lens has
an automatic diaphragm which provides clear, positive full-aperture TTL metering
with any AI Nikon SLR bodies. It has a built-in telescopic lens hood and a 360°
rotatable tripod socket collar allows secure tripod mounting with quick change from
horizontal- to vertical-format shooting; can also be removed.

The minimum
aperture stops down to f/32 which is useful for additional depth of field control.
Despite the use of ED glass in its design, the lens has a Infrared index provided.
Besides, easy filter interchange is possible via a special slip-in filter holder
which accepts 39mm screw-in filters; dedicated gelatine filter holder also supplied.
The front section, has a 122mm filter thread. When Nikon eventually introduced the
fast MF Nikkor 800mm f/5.6s ED-IF lens in 1986, which seemingly aimed to replace
this remarkable Ai-S lens as subsequent Sales Manual has omitted this lens from the
listing.

Credit: MCLau®, who has helped to rewrite
some of the content appeared this site. Chuck Hester® who has been helping
me all along with the development of all these Nikon websites;LarsHolst Hansen, 'Hawkeye'
who shares the same passion I have; Ms Rissa, Sales manager
from Nikon Corporation Malaysia for granting permission to use some of the official
content; TedWengelaar,Holland
who
has helped to provide many useful input relating to older Nikkor lenses; Some of the references
on production serial numbers used in this site were extracted from Roland Vink's website; HiuraShinsaku from Nikomat
Club Japan. Lastly,
to all the good people who has contributed their own expeience, resources or kind
enough granted permission to use their images of their respective optic in this site.
It is also a site to remember a long
lost friend
on the Net.Note:certain content and
images appeared in this site were either scanned from official marketing leaflets
& brochures published by Nikon and/or contribution from surfers who claimed originality
of their work for educational purposes. The creator of the site will not be responsible
for may discrepancies arise from such dispute except rectifying them after verification."Nikon", "Nikkormat", "Nippon Kokagu
KK"
& "Nikkor" are registered
tradename of Nikon Corporation Inc., Japan. Site made with an Apple IMac.